Goodbye for now friends

August 30, 2024

Today I couldn’t sleep in (shocking). I was up around 630 but I made myself attempt to go back to bed. It didn’t work well but at 745 I finally got out of bed and got ready. 

I took my bags to reception and headed to breakfast early. I don’t want to just sit in my room. The Italians came at 930 and we all got to laugh and chat one last time. Saying goodbye was very hard. Though we have little to nothing in common in the real world – the travel bug and this trip has solidified a friendship like no other. I got Noel to come by and say goodbye one last time as well. He and Promise have to spend the day cleaning all the tents and sleeping bags. Our tents are ROUGH from that wind storm. 

I met the Danes at 1015 and we got our bags to the shuttle and headed to the airport. We both checked into our flights and they very kindly let me hang out with them until I had to board my flight. I’m going to miss them so much – they are the kindest, most welcoming people! Maria wants to go to Vegas and I told her if they go I’ll buy them all the drinks and meet them there! 

I’m off to Capetown for the next five nights. I don’t really know what to expect. Joburg wasn’t walkable, but Capetown is. And I have a handful of things that are in my must do list – weather looks like it should be holding up. So hopefully everything works out! I’m all alone again, and while I thrive in this type of travel I will definitely miss all the laughing from the last two weeks. 

I got to Capetown and made my way through passport control and over to the parking garage to grab my Uber. Im staying at the Doubletree (the only Hilton in Capetown). Its about a 35 minute drive from the airport into the city. My Uber drive is amazing! His name is Shareef and as Im talking to him I find out he also does private day trips. So I ask if he can squeeze me in and he agrees to take me to Cape Point on Monday! He is so awesome. Now, some of you may think “Laura this is dangerous!” Two things: 1. He is a 5 star review on Uber with like 15,000 rides. And 2. This is Capetown, its very different than Joburg and this is a common thing to find in seasoned Uber drivers.

I check into my hotel and decide to just take it easy. Its nice to be back in a big hotel if only for the ease of getting food. I decided to eat dinner in the hotel and venture out to the city tomorrow. The hotel has a shuttle that will drop you off down by the waterfront, so Ill start there. For now, its a quiet night and early to bed!